2012 Speeches

Read remarks from the 2012 awards ceremonies, honoring YALSA's literary award winners.

Edwards Speech

On June 23, Susan Cooper spoke at the Margaret A. Edwards Award Luncheon. Cooper won the 2012 Edwards Award for significant and lasting contribution to writing for young adults for her books Over Sea, Under Stone; The Dark Is Rising; Greenwitch; The Grey King; and Silver on the Tree. Read her 2012 speech (PDF).

Morris Award Speeches

In 2012, John Corey Whaley won the Morris Award for best first novel for teens for Where Things Come Back. Finalist authors were Rae Carson, Jenny Hubbard, Guadalupe Garcia McCall, and Ruta Sepetys. The reception was held at the 2012 Midwinter Meeting in Dallas.

Whaley's speech (PDF) Video of Whaley's speech (,m4v)

Carson's speech (PDF) Video of Carson's speech (.m4v)

Garcia McCall's speech (PDF)

Hubbard's speech (PDF)

Video of Ruta Sepetys' speech (.MOV)

Nonfiction Award Speeches

Steve Sheinkin won the 2012 Nonfiction Award for The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism, & Treachery. A video of his speech is available below, as well as transcripts from Karen Blumenthal (Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of Prohibition) Sue Macy (Wheels of Change: How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom (With a Few Flat Tires Along the Way) and Susan Goldman Rubin (Music Was IT: Young Leonard Bernstein).

Video of Sheinkin's speech (YouTube)

Blumenthal's speech (PDF)

Macy's speech (PDF)

Goldman Rubin's speech (PDF)

Printz Award Speeches

The 2012 Printz Program and Reception took place in Anaheim, CA, in June 2012. ohn Corey Whaley won f for Where Things Come Back. Transcripts are available for his speech, as well as honor book author Maggie Stiefvater (The Scorpio Races).

Whaley's speech (PDF)

Stiefvater's speech (PDF